Sherpao demands inquiry into alleged poll rigging

PESHAWAR: Calling for an exemplary punishment for the ones, who rigged the February 8 polls, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Monday demanded an inquiry into the rigging in the recently conducted general election.

He was speaking at the Central Executive Committee meeting of his party, said a press release. Aftab Sherpao said the nation had expected before the polls that the elections would help bring political and economic stability to the country. However, he said the elections added to the political and economic instability instead.

The QWP leader said the chief election commissioner and other members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) were responsible for the rigging in the February 8 general elections.

He said the returning officers, the district returning officers and the people and institutions behind the scenes were accountable to the nation as they wasted the national resources and undermined democracy.

“The ones, who managed the elections, deserve an exemplary punishment,” he demanded, adding that the mandate of the Pakhtuns was stolen and their true representatives were kept out of the Parliament. Demanding the formation of a judicial commission, he added the 2024 elections proved to be worse rigged than the 2018 polls.

“This has weakened democracy as all political parties are complaining about rigging,” he said, adding that the ones, who committed the rigging should be exposed before the nation.Aftab Sherpao feared that some elements were conspiring against the 18th Constitutional Amendment and provincial autonomy.

He condemned blocking the social media platform X formerly Twitter and demanded the government to restore it. The QWP chief alleged that the general elections were rigged massively and this would impact the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in terms of the National Finance Commission Award and other provincial rights.

Aftab Sherpao said the rigged elections had undermined democracy in the country and the people had lost faith in the political system and the state itself. He said now the problems faced by the province would not get due importance and the people would be the ultimate sufferers.